Chancellor set to announce major open data push

Aim to aid investment and improve transport

Chancellor George Osborne is expected to reveal a major push to open up data, intended to aid economic growth, transport and healthcare.

Under the plans, understood to be announced in tomorrow’s autumn statement alongside a multi-billion pound transport investment, Osborne will say that having more open data will aid investment in medical research, by enabling healthcare to be better tracked across the NHS.

The release of better data on transport, health, weather and house prices near Tech City in London – and other technology clusters – will be aimed at aiding investment in the areas. This data will also allow companies to develop relevant apps to sell.

The government is also expected to make available real time information on roads, trains and buses nationally, data around which developers could use to create apps to link into satellite navigation devices,among other things.

It is understood that all the data will be managed by a new body, led by prominent technology entrepeneurs including Sir Tim Berners Lee.

The coalition government made several open data announcements when it came to power last year, including the disclosure of the salaries of public sector officials. But tomorrow's announcements could be its largest open data initiative so far.